Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys greets the offense after taking the lead against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles, 14-13, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, January 2, 2011. (Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

Today is “black Monday” in the NFL aka doomsday for coaches getting the pink slip. And while Dallas Cowboys interim head coach Jason Garrett can celebrate his exclusion from that list, he’s not exactly on the hired list yet either.

The Rooney Rule, implemented by the NFL in 2003, requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coach vacancies and senior football operations opportunities.

From the Fort Worth Star Telegram:

“If Jason Garrett were black, he would have been named the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach immediately after Sunday’s 14-13 season-ending victory against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

If Garrett were black, Jerry Jones could have simply done what Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf plans to do as early as today, according to multiple reports, and give interim coach Leslie Frazier the full-time job without conducting a single interview.”

Hiring Garrett is certainly in Jones’ plans, and what he most likely will do.

A high-ranking team official reiterated as much to me in the postgame locker room following the improbable comeback victory led by third-string quarterback Stephen McGee.

Be that as it may, Jason Garrett will get the Dallas Cowboys job and I still have no problems with the Rooney Rule. When you consider the overall percentage of African American head coaches jumped to 22 percent in 2006 from 6 percent before 2003, then obviously it’s making the desired impact of creating more opportunities for minorities that wouldn’t have had those opportunities otherwise.

I do wonder, though, if there will come a day when the NFL will not need a Rooney Rule because owners and management will initiate an interview process that includes diverse, qualified candidate selections?